Babaà Knitwear Review: Cardigans no18 + no19

Now that sweater weather is in full effect through much of the U.S., many of us are reaching for our favorite cozies to stay warm, especially in the early mornings and late evenings. Two particular cardigans I wear happen to garner questions every time I share them online. The no18 and no19 cardigans by Babaà Knitwear have easily brought me more DMs than any other piece of clothing I own!

Today I am excited to bring you (hopefully) all the answers you are looking for. This post is not sponsored or associated with Babaà Knitwear in any way. Nor do I make a commission if you buy a sweater. Both sweaters have been purchased by me over the course of the last year.

WHY I BOUGHT THEM:

About two winters ago I met my friend Lauren for drinks one night and she showed up wearing the most amazing cardigan I had ever seen. After she gave me the scoop on it, I began to notice them pop up here and there in the ethical fashion community. This spring I was finally ready to make a purchase and I bought the cotton (no18) cardigan in Natural because I was very drawn to the cocoon shape and texture of the thick cotton knit. I like the cocoon shape because the soft, round-ish appearance takes some of the edge off my broad, straight shoulders. I also like this shape because it’s very easy to layer over shirts with looser or dolman sleeves.

Going into the fall, I knew I wanted a counterpart that worked in the colder months so I purchased the wool (no19) cardigan in Oak. The sweaters do wear and present differently, and I’ll dive into that below.

HOW I WEAR THEM:

I wore my cotton cardigan for much of spring and even a bit in the summer. The cotton is very soft, and I love how the smooth, non-wispy fibers make the stitching pop. I found the cropped-ish style works well paired with both dresses and pants alike. The cardigan is heavy and chunky, but the bracelet sleeves beautifully balance the garment.

I’ve only owned my wool cardigan for about two months. It is extremely warm! I often wear it around the house if I need an extra layer while lounging or working. In outfits, I’ve found it can be a bit much when paired with my wide leg pants (seen here), but if I’m in the right mood, I like it. I do love it with most of my other bottoms. I haven’t paired the wool cardi with dresses yet, but I have a hunch it may not be quite the right fit for my style.

THE DETAILS:

Both the cotton and wool cardigans are sold as ‘one size.’ The cotton (no18) cardigan is described as ‘chunky with dropped shoulders’ and is knit in Spain with locally produced, undyed cotton yarn. The wool (no19) cardigan is described similarly and is knit in Spain with locally produced, undyed wool yarn. The color I have in the wool is ‘Oak’ and it’s a dark taupe. Unfortunately, it looks like it’s sold out, but, if I were to order again, the ‘Dark Mist’ would give it some serious competition.

I’m 5’7, size 6/28 and on me the cotton cardigan has a slightly shrunken fit. It hits a few inches above my wrist and falls to my hips. The wool cardigan has more of a relaxed/longer fit on me, though the sleeves are still a tad short, about bracelet length. The wool cardigan falls a few inches below my hips. You can find detailed garment measurements on their website by clicking ‘size guide’ under the item listings.

Both cardigans are priced at €195 which translates to about $223USD. Shipping is free, and quite speedy (usually just a few days). The return policy is a bit of a bear though, as return shipping fees are the responsibility of the buyer and returning a big or heavy sweater to Spain from the U.S. does not come cheap at the post office.

There is a pretty good secondhand market for these sweaters, I see them pop up all the time on Noihsaf Bazaar. My guess is that’s due in part to the expensive return shipping. Often they are new or like new, but the prices reflect that too.

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Q&A:

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Are they itchy?

My wool cardigan was very itchy the first time I put it on. Almost unbearable. I immediately texted my friend (the one who I first saw it on) and she told me it gets better. And it certainly did. I can comfortably wear it with t-shirts now. I have no research to support this, but it seems to me that with time and wear, wool ‘breaks in’ and gets less itchy. I am not sure how or why, but this has definitely been my experience.

A few other folks shared their itch-related experiences on my Instagram post, including soaking ideas to soften the wool.

Of course, the itch-factor is subjective. Some people are more bothered by wool than others. I usually don’t have a problem with it. If you have a wool sensitivity, you may want to consider the cotton cardigan instead.

Do they pill?

Yes and no. My cotton one (which I’ve owned quite a bit longer) has zero pilling. My wool cardigan has some fuzz/pill on parts of it.

Are they heavy?

The cotton cardigan is quite heavy. For me, that’s part of the appeal. The heaviness makes it drape beautifully. The wool cardigan is much lighter, it’s almost fluffy. This makes it sit differently, and it’s very easy to wear because it feels light even though it’s very warm.

Do they fit under rain coats?

Not really. I can squeeze my wool one under my oversized rain coat, but the cotton one is a definite no. This does make them a little tricky to wear in the deep winter. On cold fall days, I sometimes wear my wool cardigan as the top layer. My cotton one is not getting worn on rainy days because it’s usually too cold.

How do the sweaters compare in warmth? When is one or the other appropriate, temperature wise?

Great question! I had a few people weigh in and say between the two cardigans, they are wearing one of them at any given time of the year, and I’d say the same goes for me too. I bought my cotton cardigan in April and wore it heavily through spring, and off and on during the summer and fall. I bought my wool cardigan in September and have been wearing that a ton since I bought it. If I had to pin it to specifics, roughly, I wear the cotton one in spring and summer, and the wool one in fall and winter, with a little crossover here and there.

How does the Babaà wool cardigan compare to your L’envers wool cardigan? Particularly the itch factor.

I have gotten this exact question at least a handful of times. It’s another great one. The overall shape of the two is pretty different. The Babaà is rounded and cocoonish with dolman sleeves while the L’envers Claude Cardigan is more traditional in style and fit. The L’envers is a little bit thicker, and has a tad more itch, mostly because the sleeves are more fitted. The shape of the Claude cardigan makes it much easier to layer under coats.

How do the wool and cotton cardigans compare when buttoned up? How do the different fibers affect how the cardigan sits?

The cotton cardigan has a more fitted waistband when buttoned up. The sweater is heavier and has more drape than the lighter, fluffier wool version.

I’ve been eyeing the no19 for so long, but I’m worried that its ‘one size’ might overwhelm me (I’m 155cm tall and usually an XS).

There were some great answers from the Instagram community on this one. Beth weighed in and shared that the kids’ size 8 (in both wool and cotton) works well for her petite frame. Read all the details on this post.

Do you think they are worth the price (investment)?

I do. The amount of times I have worn my two sweaters (in the relatively short time I’ve owned them) definitely brings the cost-per-wear down pretty low. And I feel like I am just getting started! They are made with high quality fibers, 100% wool and 100% cotton, which seems to be rare in conventional fashion market these days.

I will say, at times the wool one can feel a bit ‘frumpy’ depending on what else you’re wearing with it. It’s oversized, and sometimes sack-ish, but that is also part of the appeal. The cotton cardigan definitely has a more ‘polished’ feel to me, due to the smooth fibers and slightly shrunken fit.

Do the arms get any longer?

I have not noticed this, but some of our knitting friends say you might be able to block them.

Do you wash at home or dry clean? If you wash at home, how well do they hold their shape?

I am a crazy woman and I never wash my sweaters. I always wear at least a t-shirt underneath them (no tanks) and I try to let them air out a day before folding and putting them back on my shelf. If I get anything on them, I immediately spot clean.

Why do the cotton versions always look smaller? And are the cotton versions durable? I worry that the cotton might snag easily.

The style of the cotton cardigans (no18) is a tad different in shape than the wool. It has a shrunken, slightly cropped fit. I have been worried about the snag factor as well with my cotton cardigan. A few times I’ve had the fibers pull a little bit when the sweater has caught on something, and I have always been able to pull it back through to the other side. (It’s especially easy if you have a crochet hook handy.)

How do they compare in terms of durability?

They both seem pretty durable to me. I would say the knit of the wool one is more forgiving because it’s harder to see if any threads get pulled or snagged. I wore my cotton cardigan a lot over the spring (and into summer), and it still looks as good as the day I got it. I wouldn’t call either one of them ‘delicate.’ I expect to be able to wear both for a long time.

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Closing Thoughts:

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It’s so nice to feel warm and stylish at the same time. I love these cardigans, and wear them frequently. To see them in more outfits, you can do a Babaà search on my site and click through the results. If you’re a Babaà lover, feel free to add your two cents in the comments!

Thanks so much to everyone who shared what’s on their mind and contributed questions (and answers!). Let me know if I missed yours!